ed with gasoline and used as fuel.
Nebraska is the nation’s second-
largest producer of ethanol. It is
America’s top producer of beef, Great
Northern beans, and popcorn.
Cattle, corn, soybeans, hogs, and
wheat are Nebraska’s top five
com-
modities
, in order of importance to
the economy. Agriculture in general
contributes over $21 billion every year
to Nebraska’s economy. That repre-
sents more than one-fifth of the state’s
total GDP, which exceeded $110 bil-
lion in 2014.
Manufacturing is another major
revenue source for Nebraska. Farm
equipment, fertilizers, pesticides, and
medical instruments are among the
top products manufactured in the
state. Nebraska also leads in food
manufacturing, with ConAgra, one of
America’s biggest packaged food com-
panies, based here.
Nebraska’s third-largest source of
revenue is tourism, bringing in more
than four billion dollars a year. Other
important industries in the state
include freight transport, telecommu-
nications, and banking. A number of
major insurance and financial institu-
tions are based in Nebraska, including
Mutual of Omaha and TD
55
Lower Plains: Kansas, Nebraska
Farming is a major part of
Nebraska’s economy, and corn
remains the state’s primary crop.